Principal Electric Utility Engineer
City of Santa Clara Santa Clara, California, United States
- Location: Santa Clara, California, United States
- Categories: Engineering, Planning and Development, Utilities
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: Jan 30, 2025
Job Description:
Principal Electric Utility Engineer
Description
DescriptionThe Department:
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is a not-for-profit electric municipal utility of Santa Clara, CA, serving residents and businesses for over 120 years. SVP provides power to nearly 55,000 customers, at rates 25 to 48 percent below neighboring communities. SVP is the only full service, vertically integrated publicly owned utility in Silicon Valley owning generation, transmission and distribution assets. As a Public Electric Utility, Santa Clara’s Silicon Valley Power is not driven by profits, as reflected in its significant lower utility rates when compared to other private sector utilities. Silicon Valley Power is community and policy driven, which is reflected in the many green policies that it promotes, reduced rates and its strategic plan. Silicon Valley Power is one of few public electric utilities in California with an upward trajectory of growth. In 2017, Silicon Valley Power also achieved 36% renewable and 72% HGH free energy and, since January 2018, Silicon Valley Power has been delivering GHG-free energy to all residential customers. All this was accomplished while maintaining the lowest electricity rates in Santa Clara County.
The Position:
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is seeking a dynamic, engaging and highly qualified professionals for four (4) vacant unclassified management positions of Principal Electric Utility Engineer in various divisions under our Customer Development and Project Management groups.
System Expansion Capital Projects
This position will have the opportunity to work on complex and exciting large capital system expansion improvement projects in a dynamic, team-oriented environment. This position will be responsible for managing four large system expansion projects moving forward to bid and construction, totaling an estimated cost of $420 million. This position will oversee engineering consultants, Program Management consultants, and construction of 3 receiving station projects and one 2.25-mile 115kV transmission line project. As such, the ideal candidate will have large substation or receiving station project experience and be able to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities. The candidate will show proven problem-solving skills and excellent communication.
System Planning and Asset Management
This position will lead the System Planning & Asset Management team that will include Transmission Planning, Distribution Planning, and Asset Management. This position will be responsible for load forecasting, transmission and distribution system modeling and design, operations modeling support, and asset management. System planning will include the participation in the yearly California Energy Commission (CEC) IEPR load forecasting process, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Transmission Planning Process (TPP), and the management of Western Electric Coordination Council (WECC) Transmission Planning (TP), Distribution Planning (DP), Transmission Owner (TO), Transmission Operator (TOP), Distribution Planning (DP), and Load Serving Entity (LSE) registration responsibilities. Operations support will include assisting SVP’s control center with electric clearance switch plan studies at both distribution and transmission system. As such, the ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of how the electric system works, including transmission, distribution, and substation systems and be able to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities. The candidate must have proven problem-solving skills and excellent communication skills.
Engineering Division and CIP projects
The first position will lead an engineering team that will include substation engineering, Transmission system engineering and distribution system engineering. This position will be responsible for performing and managing the design of substation and transmission line projects from conception through construction and commissioning. This position will develop standards, specifications, engineering studies, calculations, evaluations, design documents associated with the planning, design, construction and maintenance of SVP substations, Transmission system, distribution system and other utility facilities. The candidates must have extensive experience in High voltage Substation and Transmission line design, plan, standard and specification preparation. The candidates must have proven problem solving skills and excellent communication skills.
The second position will lead the Capital Improvement Project group. This position will be responsible for performing and managing the work related to implementation of a portfolio of projects that can include new substations, transmission lines, and distribution systems to ensure the projects are delivered within schedule, scope and budget. This position will manage various consultants and work with business services group for procurement and onboarding consulting firms and contractors to support CIP projects. This position will create or update existing project management processes as necessary and will engage in collaboration and change management with other internal and external teams. This position will work in a cross-functional and cross-organizational environment including various consultants, contractors and developer team. The candidates should have extensive experience in the implementation and project management of high voltage electric utility projects.
As a member of the City's Unclassified Service, this is an "at-will" position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager.
Additional Information:
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Resume and, 2) Certificate of registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov . Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM.
THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.
The annual salary range for this position is $207,996.72 - $269,168.88. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
Typical Duties
Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Minimum Qualifications
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum Education Requirements:
- Education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in electrical, mechanical, civil or other related field of engineering
Minimum Experience Requirements:
- Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in electric utility engineering work
- Candidates from a non-accredited college or university must demonstrate educational equivalency by registration as a professional electrical, mechanical or civil engineer in the State of California
Acceptable Substitution:
- A Master's Degree in electrical, mechanical or civil engineering, or business or public administration from an accredited college may be substituted for one year of experience
License/Certifications:
- Possession of a certificate of registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California is required
- Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at the time of appointment and for duration of employment
Other Requirements:
- Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment
- May be required to work unusual hours in emergency situations
- Required to pass initial and periodic comprehensive background checks, which may include fingerprinting, to meet Federal, State, and /or industry security requirements
City of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #9
Miscellaneous Unclassified Management
This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara’s benefits available to Bargaining Unit #9 employees in 2025. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager’s Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.
Retirement:
- Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula -employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi-weekly
- New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula - employee pays 7.00% of gross pay
- Medicare and Social Security (FICA)
- Employee pays 6.20% up to $10,918.20 (Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay
- The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan
- Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis
- No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution
- To be eligible for the City’s contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage
- Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
- Employees hired on or after 1/1/2023 who opt-out of City-offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash-in-lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details
- Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory
- City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
- Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
- Choice of two VSP plans
- City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
- Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
- City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee’s VEBA account
- Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre-tax)
- City pays for $50,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage
- Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
- Additional optional insurance may be purchased by the employee for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children
- Employee pays 1.2% of gross pay (includes Paid Family Leave)
- 7 day waiting period. Weekly paid leave for absences due to non-work related injuries/illnesses. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
- Up to 8 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period to care for a family member or to bond with a new child
- No waiting period. Weekly paid leave benefit. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance:
- Benefit is 60% of basic wage up to $13,333; max $8,000/month
- City paid benefit. City pays $.207/$100 of insured earnings
- 60 calendar day waiting period
- Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
- Voluntary plan through Nationwide Retirement Solutions
- Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or 100% of gross compensation into a pre-tax 457(b) account or a post-tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules
- Additionally, the City contributes $300 a month toward employee’s 457(b) account. This dollar amount will factor into the above mentioned IRS rules and limits
- Employee may contribute up to $3,300 per year in pre-tax dollars to a health care spending account
- Employee may contribute up to $5,000 per year in pre-tax dollars to a dependent care spending account
- Employee may contribute up to $325 per month in pre-tax dollars to a commuter benefit plan
- Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, cannot use vacation during first 6 months of City service
- For 1 - 4 years of service: 10 days (80 hours)/year
- For 5 - 9 years of service: 15 days (120 hours)/year
- For 10 - 15 years of service: 21 days (168 hours)/year
- For 16 - 20 years of service: 22 days (176 hours)/year
- For 21+ years of service: 24 days (192 hours)/year
- Maximum accrual is 480 hours
- Once per year, employees can elect to convert up to 80 hours of accrued vacation to cash to be paid out in up to two cash-outs the following calendar year
- Sick leave is accrued bi-weekly for equivalent of 96 hours per calendar year with no maximum accrual
- Up to 48 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness
- Up to 32 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for personal leave
- Employee may convert sick leave to vacation once per calendar year (annual maximum conversion is 96 hours sick to 48 hours vacation)
- Partial sick leave payoff provision on retirement depending on years of service
- 120 hours of management leave credited to employees each January 1st
- New employees hired between January 1st and June 30th receive 120 hours of management leave their first year
- New employees hired between July 1st and December 31st receive 60 hours of management leave their first year
- Unused management leave may be carried over from one calendar year to the next; however, an employee may never have more than 180 hours of “banked” management leave
- Seventeen paid eight-hour holidays per year (13 & 4 holidays between 12/25 to 1/1 of following year)
- $80/month in lieu of carrying a City-issued cell phone
- Department Heads receive $320/month (up to $520, with City Manager approval). Assistant Department Heads and Division Managers can receive $200/month (Up to $500 with City Manager approval)
Tuition Reimbursement Program:
- Up to $2,000 per fiscal year for tuition reimbursement
- Confidential counseling to employees and dependents. Up to maximum of five (5) consultations per family member per incident per year
- City paid benefit
- Employees who retire from the City with at least ten (10) years of service shall receive reimbursement to help cover retiree single health insurance premiums. The reimbursement maximum includes the PEMHCA minimum.
- Up to age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to$425/month in 2025 (amount adjusted annually)
- After age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $254/month in 2025 (amount adjusted annually)
- An employee shall be eligible to work a 9/80 alternate work schedule according to the conditions, criteria, and requirements set forth in City Manager's Directive 71. Requests to work a 9/80 schedule shall be made through or by the Department Head to the City Manager. The City Manager must approve the schedule and the City Manager or Department Head (for employees other than Department Heads) may terminate the schedule at any time.
Closing Date/Time: 2/26/2025 4:00 PM Pacific